The Fall of a king.
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes.
Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God. Therefore I decree that the people of any nation or language who say anything against the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego be cut into pieces and their houses be turned into piles of rubble, for no other god can save in this way.”
So we have a guy who is sees that Jehovah is God, Daniel and his friends are right again. Their God reigns. He sees this and reacts like any imperfect person.
Worship God my way or Die!
My way or the highway. So he is making progress but is not quite there.
Its frustrating isn’t it when people are starting to make progress but they keep stumbling and don’t ever seem to get going.
So here we are in Daniel 4 where you and I will have the honor of reading Nebuchadnezzar testimony this week
King Nebuchadnezzar, To the nations and peoples of every language, who live in all the earth: May you prosper greatly! It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation.
Long gone is the guy from Daniel 3 after the furnace. This king is praising God. He is acknowledging the Lordship of God over himself. The guy who worship the golden image is now gone, the weak and worldly king who threatened anyone who would not worship God is gone. Now when read his words you see a different tone.
For many years now the king had seen God working in and through Daniel Hannaniah, Azzariah and Michal, and nothing had seemingly moved the needle. He still made threats, and worships idols.
Its hard when you and I minister to people and they make a little progress then recoil back. Its hard to watch that happen, but my friends just because you and I don’t see fruit doesn’t mean God is not working.
Nebuchadnezzer likes God when he does cool things but thus far He has never needed to bow to God.
God was using those around him to build the framework for his deliverance.
These are the visions I saw while lying in bed: I looked, and there before me stood a tree in the middle of the land. Its height was enormous. The tree grew large and strong and its top touched the sky; it was visible to the ends of the earth. Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant, and on it was food for all. Under it the wild animals found shelter, and the birds lived in its branches; from it every creature was fed. “In the visions I saw while lying in bed, I looked, and there before me was a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven. He called in a loud voice: ‘Cut down the tree and trim off its branches; strip off its leaves and scatter its fruit. Let the animals flee from under it and the birds from its branches. But let the stump and its roots, bound with iron and bronze, remain in the ground, in the grass of the field. “ ‘Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven, and let him live with the animals among the plants of the earth. Let his mind be changed from that of a man and let him be given the mind of an animal, till seven times pass by for him. “ ‘The decision is announced by messengers, the holy ones declare the verdict, so that the living may know that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes and sets over them the lowliest of people.’
This dream I, King Nebuchadnezzar, saw. And you, O Belteshazzar, tell me the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation, but you are able, for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.”
So why Does Nebuchadnezzer turn to Daniel So much. It is because Daniel has remained Faithful to the word. He has earned the right in the kings court to be heard. God has shown Himself in and through Daniel.
Church your testimony is not in vain. When you and I walk in obedience to God. When we stand for the word of God we are turning people we are setting them up for a move of God.
Then Daniel (also called Belteshazzar) was greatly perplexed for a time, and his thoughts terrified him. So the king said, “Belteshazzar, do not let the dream or its meaning alarm you.” Belteshazzar answered, “My lord, if only the dream applied to your enemies and its meaning to your adversaries! The tree you saw, which grew large and strong, with its top touching the sky, visible to the whole earth, with beautiful leaves and abundant fruit, providing food for all, giving shelter to the wild animals, and having nesting places in its branches for the birds—Your Majesty, you are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth. “Your Majesty saw a holy one, a messenger, coming down from heaven and saying, ‘Cut down the tree and destroy it, but leave the stump, bound with iron and bronze, in the grass of the field, while its roots remain in the ground. Let him be drenched with the dew of heaven; let him live with the wild animals, until seven times pass by for him.’ “This is the interpretation, Your Majesty, and this is the decree the Most High has issued against my lord the king: You will be driven away from people and will live with the wild animals; you will eat grass like the ox and be drenched with the dew of heaven. Seven times will pass by for you until you acknowledge that the Most High is sovereign over all kingdoms on earth and gives them to anyone he wishes. The command to leave the stump of the tree with its roots means that your kingdom will be restored to you when you acknowledge that Heaven rules.
Therefore, Your Majesty, be pleased to accept my advice: Renounce your sins by doing what is right, and your wickedness by being kind to the oppressed. It may be that then your prosperity will continue.”
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy.
Because His testimony was so uncompromising He was able to give a holy warning to The king.
You pride and arrogance cannot go on forever. God loves, he is patient with you, but if you do not repent, it may over for you.
Whenever we see judgement Coming for those we love we should not rejoice, but be saddened because the judgment of God is swift and all encompassing.
Some tend to say well they what they deserved. but I caution you to humbly pray for those walking towards judgment. Because you and I apart from the grace of Christ would be walking that same road.